Rolling type closure construction



Feb. 26, 1963 D. A. RECCHIONE ROLLING TYPE CLOSURE cous'mucuou FiledFeb. 26, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 24 jg I03 Q 5,120 H8 |o5 r roeINVEN'FOR.

Dom :McAkficce-HoNE A TTORNEY Feb. 26, I963 D. A. RECCHIONE 3,078,917

7 ROLLING TYPE CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 26, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet2' FIG.4

INVENTOR. MINIcAREccH/ONE A T'ro RNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR..Ddmmmflkeccmou' AT TORNEY l mm Feb. 26, 1963 D. A. RECCHIONE ROLLINGTYPE CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 26, 1959 FIGJB PZOA lOO

Feb. 26, 1963 o. A. RECCHIONE ROLLING TYPE CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION 5Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 26,. 1959 INVENTOR. Dom: NICARECXZ H IO NE BYI 1 ra 4 M FIG l5 A TTORNEY Feb. 26, 1963 o. A. RECCHIONE 3,078,917

ROLLING TYPE CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 26, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 5152 ISI INVENTOR. .oommcnfisocl-l IONE RTTCIZNEY United States PatentOfiice 3,078,917 Patented Feb. 26, 1963 3,o7s,917 ROLLING TYPE CLOSURECGNSTRUCTIUN Dominic A. Recchione, .IacksonHeights, N.Y., assigno'r toWalter Balfour 8: Co. Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New Yorkiled Feb. 26, 1959, Ser. No. 795,690

2 (Ilaims. (Cl. rec-12o)- This invention relates to closures and, moreparticularly, to rolling doors.

Many new uses have been found for flush mounted type sliding and rollingdoors. In some instances, it has been found to be extremely desirable toprovide such flush type rolling doors in hotel lobbies, theatres, banks,and the like, whereby it becomes important to the maintenance of theproper decor to provide a neat and finished appearance that will readilyblend with the architectural construction of the building. It istherefore an object of the present invention to provide a rolling doorinstallation that is extremely simple in construction, simple tooperate, and which provides a completely finished and neat appearance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rolling doorhaving guide members that are smooth and free from projections to enablethe curtain to slide freely in an even and uninterrupted motion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide guide means forthe curtains of rolling doors that will effectively reduce friction,noise, and derormation of the curtain slats, and which will facilitatethe opening and closing thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a self-containedlocking mechanism within the curtain that is completely hidden from viewand which can be manually actuated to retain the curtain in a closedposition.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a completelyself-contained rolling door installation that can be readily appliedbetween the jamhs of a wall opening, or upon the face side thereof,without necessitating any structural changes in the supporting wall orsurrounding equipment.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a rollingcurtain type door embodying a removable mullion which will enable suchdoors to be readily installed in exceptionally long wall. openingswithout excessive strain upon the parts or deformation due to the weightof the curtain that might otherwise result.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide cooperatinglocking elements that maintain the end posts, mullion, curtain, andstorage roll housing in properly connected operating relationship at alltimes com-' pletely independently of the wall within which the door ismounted so as to enable such doors to be readily installed. within anywall opening without requiring structural changes in the openingdefining portions of the wall.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a rollingdoor unit of the type described that presents a completely uniform andclean exterior appearance, devoid of objectionable fasteners, unsightlyirregular portions, and which includes security locking elementsthat areall completely hidden from view.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rolling door ofthe above type that is-constructed from a plurality of extruded shapesthat slidably interlock with each other to produce the necessarycomponents thereof, thus reducing the number of additional fasteningelements required to maintain the parts in proper position and reducingthe cost of manufacture of the finished door.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparentfrom a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

FIGUREI is a perspective view of a walled enclosure embodying a rollingdoor with a removable mullion made in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view, with parts brokenaway, showing certain parts of the curtain forming a part of the presentinvention; 7

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross sectional-view taken along line 33 ofFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged front elevational View, with parts broken away,of a curtain storage and mounting structure forming another part of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse cross sectional Viewtaken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 5:: is a View similar to FIGURE 5, showing a slightly modifiedform of construction; I

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of certain parts ofan end post channel guide member forming another part of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken alongline 7--7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is an exploded perspective view of a hood and mounting plate asused on doors installed under a lintel;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a removable mullionforming another part of the present invention in operative associationwith the adjacent door structure;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged rear elevational view, with parts broken away,ofcertain parts of the structure shown in FlGURE 9;

FEGURE 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view taken alongline 11--Il1 of FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view taken alongline 12-12 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary perspective view of the walled enclosureshown in FIGURE 1, in a completely open position and with the mullionremoved;

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional viewtaken along line 1414 of FIG- URE 2, showing one form of lockingmechanism made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 15 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing a modified form oflocking mechanism;

FIGURE 16 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view taken alongline I616 of FIGURE 15;

FIGURE 17 is a fragmentary perspective view of a single curtain rollingdoor made in accordance with the present invention mounted upon theinside face of the opening defining portions of a walled enclosure;

FIGURE 18 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken alongline lll--18 of FIGURE 17; and

FIGURE 19 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view taken alongline l919 of FIGURE 17.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof,a rolling door installation 20 made in accordance with the presentinvention is shown in operative association mounted between the jambsdefining an opening in one side of a walled enclosure 21. Thisinstallation 201s a multiple curtain unit having a removable mullion, aswill hereinafter be more fully explained.

With more specific reference now to FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawing, alongitudinally flexible and transversely rigid curtain 22 forming a partof the present invention is shown to be constructed from a plurality ofpreferably extruded aluminum slats 23. One side edge of each slat 23 isprovided with a bead 24 that is pivotally received within the femalesocket 25 formed along the opposite edge of the next adjacent slat. Eachbead24 is slidably received within the adjacent-female-socket of thenext adjacent slat, thus enabling the slats to be assembled without theuse of additional fastening elements. However, in order to maintain theslats in proper alignment with each other, end locks 2'7 are secured,such as by rivets 28, to alt rnate slats 23, thus blocking the outwardmovement of the adjacent bead. 2-4 through the end of the closed socket25.

End posts arranged in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention, are shown more clearly 1n FZGURES 5 and 6 to be constructedfrom two extruded. shapes, a base part 31 and a guide part 35. The basepart 31 defines a longitudinal groove 32 that slidably receives a rail33 of the guide part 35, so as to enable these twoparts to be slidablyconnected together as a single integral unit. The guide part 35 definesa longitudinal groove 36 into which the adjacent end of the curtain 22is slidably received. An anti-friction track 37, such as extruded nylon,of substantially trapezoidal cross sectional configuration is slidablyreceived within a similarly shaped groove adjacent to the longitudinalgroove 36 of the guide part 35. This track slidably engages the insidesurface of the curtain 22 so as to guide it during its longitudinalmovement with a minimum amount of frictional resistance. An arcuateguide member 33 also having an anti-friction track element 39 has adepending stem 40 that is received within a socket 42 at onelongitudinal end of the guide part 35 of the end post, and securedthereto by means of a screw 41. As is clearly shown in FIGURE 5 of thedrawing, mounting bolts 44 are extended through both the guide part 35and the base part 31 of the end post into securing engagement withexpansion bushings 45 disposed in the jamb or wall 43 so as to rigidlysecure the end post in place. Since these mounting bolts are on the rearside of the curtain, the front side thereof is completely neat andsmooth, completely devoid of any attaching or fastening elements thatmight otherwise detract from its appearance.

Referring now to FIGURES 4, 7, and 8 of the drawing, a storage unit forreceiving the rolling curtain in a storage position is shown to be anintegral part of the end posts and associated guide means. End plates 47are secured, such as by mounting bolts 48 that extend through providedopenings 49, to the jamb or wall 43 directly above and in alignment withthe base part 31 of the end posts. Each such end plate 47 has a spacerflange 51 that maintains the end plate in properly spaced apartrelationship upon the jamb i3. Cylindrical spacers through which themounting bolts 48 extend further assist in maintaining the end plate 47in properly spaced relationship with the wall or jamb. Attachment flange52 in front provides means for securing apron 69 when the door ismounted under a lintel. When the door is mounted on the face of a wall,flange 52 is used to fasten plate 47 to the wall. This hood is shown toinclude an angular bottom and back plate 59, a top plate 53, and a frontapron 6i). Angular mounting brackets 61 longi tudinally spaced apartthroughout the length of the hood provide means for securing therespective plates in proper position relative to each other and thesupporting end posts 36. It will be noted that each arcuate guide 38projects upwardly through the opening 63 between the apron 6i) and thefacing edge of the bottom plate 59 so as to guide the curtain upwardlytherethrough into rolling engagement with a supporting roller 64 of anydesired construction. This roller 64, which may include a torsion springfor assisting in the raising and lowering of the curtain, forms no partof the present invention and is thus not illustrated in further detail.Suflice it to state that such roller 64 may be of any desiredconstruction which will enable the curtain 22 to be rollably supportedthereon. In all longitudinal movements of the curtains 22, the end posts30 serve to guide the curtain smoothly and evenly into engagement withthe roller. Security lock plates 6-6, as is more clearly shown inFlGUlZE 5 of the drawing, extend behind facing shoulders 68 in the 4-guide part 35 of each end post to prevent canting of the curtain andtran verse relative movement thereof. During the installation of theunit, the curtain is assembled with the end posts merely by sliding thecurtain into engagement therewith, within the respective channelopenings 31'.

The removable mullion 7t! is more clearly illustrated in FIGURES 9through 12, and is shown to basically include a pair of end postsections that are secured in back to back relationship with each otherby means of nut bolt assemblies 76. Each such section includes a basepart '73 and a guide part 74 that has a frictionless track 75 thatfunctions in a manner similar to that hereinbefore described. Themuilion 76 further includes releasable means for lockin" it in placeduring the raising and lowering of the curtain, but which permits it tobe removed from the window opening when the curtains are in the raisedposition illustrated in FIGURE 13 of the drawing. Such locking meansincludes a handle 77 that has a stem 73 projecting into the interior ofthe base part 73 of each section through a longitudinal slot 79. A block81 slidably supported within the channel defined by each base part 73 issecured to the opposite end of the handle stem 78 so as to belongitudinally movable therewith throughout the length of the slot 79. Aset of spring fingers 82 secured to this block 81 frictionally resistmovement of the block 81 between positions. However, longitudinalmovement of the block 81 by means of the handle 77 is operative toetiect similar longitudinal movement of an inside rod 84 that has awedge block 850, 12 secured to the opposite end. One such wedge block35a is movable longitudinally into a channel guide upon which an endplate it for the curtain storage hood is attached. The other wedge block8% has a depending pin 85 that is receivable within a well 87 in thecounter top 83 of the walled enclosure. Thus, with both handles 77 movedtoward their outermost positions, the wedge blocks 85a, I) serve to lockthe mullion in place within the window opening. By retracting thesehandles 77, which are accessible only from the interior of the Walledenclosure, the mullion can be unlocked so as to be removed after thecurtains 22. have been ra'ed to the open position, thus opening thewalled enclosure Zita for use. The upper end of each guide part 74 ofthe mullion is also provided with an arcuate guide member 92 similar tothat hereinbefore described for guiding the curtain upwardly intorolling engagement with the supporting roller 64.

Each curtain 2.2 is further provided with a bottom lock bar 1% thatincludes an extruded face plate 161 having longitudinal grooves Hi3 thatslidably receive a back plate 185 therewithin. Rivets secure the backplate 195 in properly aligned position with the face plate 101 so as todefine a longitudinal housing therewithin. Each side edge of the faceplate 161 is provided with a socket 168 for receiving the male bead 24of the outrmost one of the curtain slats 23 on one side, and an astragal109 on the other side that functions as a seal for snug fit engagementwith the counter top 88. Resilient bumpers ill secured to the insidesurface of the bottom lock bar limit the upward movement of the curtainso as to prevent it from moving completely within the hood assembly, sothat it is always accessible for movement toward a closed position.Since the bumpers 111 are larger than the opening 63 into the hood, theyeifectively prevent continued movement of the terminal portion of thecurtain thercthrough.

A lock assembly made in accordance with one form of the presentinvention is more clearly illustrated in FiGURES 2, 3, and 1 of thedrawing. This assembly includes a housing 115 that is recessed withinthe rear side of each end of the bottom lock bar 100. A slide bolt H3 isslidably supported within each such housing 115, and has one end of alock bar 119 secured thereto, such as by a rivet 12:3. The opposite endof each such lock bar 119 is slidably supported within a slot 121 withinthe end plate 122 of the lock bar 100. Thus, in response to slidingmovement of the bolt 118, the lock bar 119 can be selectively moved intoand out of an aligned opening 124 in the lowermost portion of each endpost or mullion, thus locking the bottom bar 100 and the rest of thecurtain against longitudinal movement relative thereto. This housing 115is accessible only from the interior of the enclosure 20, so that itdoes not detract from the finished appearance on the outside thereof. Ifdesired, a padlock or other retaining means may be extended throughaligned openings in the handle part of the sliding bolt 118 and a crossbar 116 of the housing 115 to prevent unauthorized opening of thecurtain.

In FIGURES and 16 of the drawing, a slightly modified form of lockassembly 130 is shown to include a single cylinder lock 131 mounted uponthe bottom lock bar 100, such as by rivets 132. This cylinder lock 131includes a shaft 134 to which a cross arm 135 is secured, such as by akey 136. One end of a lock bar 137 is secured, such as by means of apivot pin 138 to each end of the cross arm 135. Thus, in response torotation of the cylinder lock 13 1, the lock bars 137 are simultaneouslymoved inwardly and outwardly through aligned slots 140 in the end plates139 at the opposite ends of the bottom bar 100, into and out ofengagement with similarly aligned slots 142 in the end posts andmullion. In this embodiment, a single rotation of the cylinder lock 131is operative to lock and unlock both sides of the bottom lock bar 100.

As shown in FIGURE 5a, a substantially wider base post 3111 is used inconnection with the channel guide post 35 with doors operated by crankwhere greater clearance is required on one side to provide necessaryspace for the operating device. During such installation, asubstantially longer mounting bolt 44a is required to secure theassembled post 30a to the wall or jamb 43.

With reference now to FIGURES 17 to 19, an installation 150 is shownthat is mounted upon the inside face of a wall 152 that defines anopening 151 through which access is to be controlled. In thisembodiment, the mounting bolts 153 extend through aligned openings 154in both the base part and guide part of the end posts so that thecurtain overlaps the openings defining portions on the inside of thewall. In this arrangement, auxiliary mounting holes 49a in the flange 52of the hood end plates are used to mount the hood upon the wallcompletely hidden from view. The universal and symmetrical constructionof the related parts enables this rolling door to be equally as wellinstalled between the jambs or upon the face of the wall, to suit anydesired purpose.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

1. A self contained rolling type closure assembly comprising, incombination, a pair of spaced apart parallel guide members, a curtainslidably supported by said guide members for reciprocating longitudinalmovement between a retracted open position and an extended closedposition, said curtain comprising a plurality of substantially identicalrigid slats, each of said guide members comprising a channel memberhaving a longitudinal shoulder facing outwardly in a direction away fromsaid curtain, connection means pivotally securing each side edge of eachsaid slat to an adjacent side edge of the next adjacent slat wherebysaid curtain is flexible in a longitudinal direction parallel to saidguide members and rigid in a direction extending transversely betweensaid guide members, security lock means carried by said curtain andslidably engaged by said guide members maintaining said slatstransversely within and normal to said guide members and securing theends of said slats within said guide members against displacement out ofsaid guide members, said security lock means comprising a plurality ofangle brackets secured to the adjacent lateral edge of said curtainoverlying and locking behind said shoulders, each of said bracketsadapted to overlap the edge of an adjacent slat, roller means at onelongitudinal end of said guide members rollably supporting said curtainin said open retracted position, and latch means at the oppositelongitudinal end of said guide members releasably securing said curtainin said extended closed position.

2. A self contained rolling type closure comprising, in combination, apair of spaced apart parallel guide members, a continuous curtainslidably supported by said guide members for reciprocating longitudinalmovement between a retracted open position and an extended closedposition, said curtain being flexible in a longitudinal directionparallel to said guide members and being rigid in a transverse directionintermediate said guide members, roller means at one longitudinal end ofsaid guide members rollably supporting said curtain in said retractedopen position, each one of said pair of guide members comprising asubstantially rigid channel member opening inwardly toward said curtainand slidably receiving one lateral edge of said curtain therewithin, ananti-friction track element integral with each one of said guide membersprojecting into said channel and defining an antifriction surfaceslidably engaging one facing side of said curtain, and removable arcuateguide members each coextensive at one extremity with said onelongitudinal end of its associated guide member, the opposite extremityof said arcuate guide member extending freely toward said roller meansand defining a removable extension of said track element beyond saidguide member in a direction toward said roller means, said curtainincluding an inside hidden surface and an outside exposed surface, saidtrack slidably engaging said inside surface, said arcuate guideextending longitudinally and outwardly away from said inside surfacetoward said roller means, said curtain comprising a plurality ofsubstantially identical rigid slats, each one of said slats extendingtransversely between said guide members, connection means pivotallysecuring each side edge of each slat to an adjacent side edge of thenext adjacent slat, security lock means securing the opposite ends ofsaid curtain transversely within said guide members against displacementout of said channels, each said channel member including a longitudinalshoulder facing outwardly in a direction away from said curtain, saidsecurity lock means comprising a plurality of brackets secured to theadjacent lateral edge of said curtain overlying said shoulder.

Refereuces Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,834,513 Bredin Dec. 1, 1931 1,900,493 Friedrichs Mar. 7, 19331,918,415 Miller July 18, 1933 1,989,513 Greegor Ian. 29, 1935 2,104,648Hickey Ian. 4, 1938 2,124,970 Bagley July 26, 1938 2,275,729 Casse Mar.10, 1942 2,275,730 Casse Mar. 10, 1942 2,309,437 Blodgett Jan. 26, 19432,812,021 Bechtler Nov. 5, 1957 2,839,135 Anderson -2 June 17, 19582,903,057 Alvarez Sept. 8, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 431,673 Italy Mar. 4,1948 1,116,701 France Feb. 6, 1956

1. A SELF CONTAINED ROLLING TYPE CLOSURE ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, INCOMBINATION, A PAIR OF SPACED APART PARALLEL GUIDE MEMBERS, A CURTAINSLIDABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID GUIDE MEMBERS FOR RECIPROCATING LONGITUDINALMOVEMENT BETWEEN A RETRACTED OPEN POSITION AND AN EXTENDED CLOSEDPOSITION, SAID CURTAIN COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY IDENTICALRIGID SLATS, EACH OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS COMPRISING A CHANNEL MEMBERHAVING A LONGITUDINAL SHOULDER FACING OUTWARDLY IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROMSAID CURTAIN, CONNECTION MEANS PIVOTALLY SECURING EACH SIDE EDGE OF EACHSAID SLAT TO AN ADJACENT SIDE EDGE OF THE NEXT ADJACENT SLAT WHEREBYSAID CURTAIN IS FLEXIBLE IN A LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAIDGUIDE MEMBERS AND RIGID IN A DIRECTION EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY BETWEENSAID GUIDE MEMBERS, SECURITY LOCK MEANS CARRIED BY SAID CURTAIN ANDSLIDABLY ENGAGED BY SAID GUIDE MEMBERS MAINTAINING SAID SLATSTRANSVERSELY WITHIN AND NORMAL TO SAID GUIDE MEMBERS AND SECURING THEENDS OF SAID SLATS WITHIN SAID GUIDE MEMBERS AGAINST DISPLACEMENT OUT OFSAID GUIDE MEMBERS, SAID SECURITY LOCK MEANS COMPRISING A PLURALITY OFANGLE BRACKETS SECURED TO THE ADJACENT LATERAL EDGE OF SAID CURTAINOVERLYING AND LOCKING BEHIND SAID SHOULDERS, EACH OF SAID BRACKETSADAPTED TO OVERLAP THE EDGE OF AN ADJACENT SLAT, ROLLER MEANS AT ONELONGITUDINAL END OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS ROLLABLY SUPPORTING SAID CURTAININ SAID OPEN RETRACTED POSITION, AND LATCH MEANS AT THE OPPOSITELONGITUDINAL END OF SAID GUIDE MEMBERS RELEASABLY SECURING SAID CURTAININ SAID EXTENDED CLOSED POSITION.